Shooting stars and water color paintings both came in to play with Sara and Thomas' lovely, fall wedding that took place on a working permaculture farm. What started with a Great Gatsby party eventually led to a heart warming love story and a special celebration in the jeweled hued hills of Vermont. Read on for more on what Sara and Thomas shared with us about their journey:

Friends for nine years before they became a couple, Emily and Patrick met in High School. Because of their long friendship it did not take Pat very long to decide Emily was the one, and he proposed on Christmas Day within the first year. They fell in love with The Wallingford Lodge because of it’s woodsy, secluded location, and the amazing views. Emily particularly loved that she had complete control over the decorating of the reception and she DIY’d many of the decor elements in a bohemian/fall theme.

Her favorite detail was the grape soda bottle cap pin she made for Pat in honor of the movie UP and to incorporate their love of Disney. She also loved her customized floral crown made with berries, pinecones, flowers, and succulents. Both Emily and Pat wanted to have an intimate first look before the ceremony. They met at a circle of trees near the lodge to share a giggle and some happy tears before walking down the aisle. Both of Emily’s parents walked her down the aisle, something that meant a lot to her since they are both her best friends and a huge part of her life.

Meaghan and Jerry grew up together-graduating from the same high school- but did not start dating until their Junior year of college. Jerry attended Norwich University and Meaghan went to Saint Michael’s College. The couple spent a lot of time exploring Burlington and so it was only fitting that the Queen City was where Jerry proposed to Meaghan, during a surprise weekend getaway.

Even though Meaghan had moved to Massachusetts, and Jerry was stationed at Fort Sill, the couple knew that Vermont was where they had to have their wedding. Once they visited the Inn at the Round Barn Farm they fell in love with the picture perfect barn and scenery. Not the mention the delicious food!

Meaghan and Jerry’s advice to other couples planning a wedding is: “Don’t sweat the small stuff. I unexpectedly started a new job two months before our wedding and with that didn’t have time to finish some of the smaller things. At the end of the day those little details didn’t effect the day. Also, don’t let vendors and venues convince you to spend excess money on minor details that your guest won't even notice.”

Amy and Jay wanted a simple, vintage wedding with an organic feel that would highlight the beauty of fall in Midwestern Illinois. From the ceremony to the reception, their focus was having their friends and family around them. So instead of having a head table they set the tables up in a U shape to create one large family table. Amy's wedding gown was the same one her mother wore for her own wedding, which she had altered for a more modern look. The vibrant flowers echoed the fall color palette surrounding the natural setting. From their "first look" to fun photo ops in the corn field, Amy and Jay definitely succeeded in creating the casual and heartfelt celebration they dreamed of!

Fall is both a welcome and dissapointing season in Vermont. It is a reminder of what is coming in a few short weeks, that summer is over and the snow is imminent. But you can't beat the colors of the fall leaves, the bountiful harvest of fruits and vegetables, crisp afternoons spent at the fair, and cozy evenings around bonfires with some apple cider. It is also a favorite time to have a wedding and we love these gorgeous and inspiring images from Ashley Largesse Photography. It is a fresh departure from the typical deep plums and burnt oranges you typically see for an autumn celebration. A crisp, clean white and brigher orange hues are the perfect contrast to muted honeyed wheat and the faded greens of succulents.

To see more images from this feature, and tons of other inspiring ideas and photos, be sure to check out the Vermont Bride LOOKBOOK issue 7! Check it out here.

Despite several attempts by their friends to set them up, Rachel and Mike only knew each other as acquaintances for a few years. Finally at a bar in Washington DC on Saint Patrick’s Day, Rachel’s favorite holiday, they agreed to date. It was another of Rachel’s favorites- this time a place- where Mike popped the question. Outside the Plaza in New York City, Mike convinced Rachel to take a walk to the fountains. Rachel was convinced he was just trying to keep her from her favorite bar, but seconds later he surprised her with a ring. All she remembers after that is the cheering and flashing of cameras from nearby tourists.

Rachel attended Law School in Vermont and her family frequently vacationed in Woodstock. Since they both wanted a location that would feel like a getaway for their guests and themselves, Woodstock was the perfect choice. They also loved that all of the festivities were accessible just a few steps away from the front door of the Woodstock Inn.

Once their guests arrived they were able to park their cards and forget about needing transportation for the rest of the weekend. The Woodstock Inn was a great gathering space so their guests could relax, catch up, and then go out to pursue fall activities in town. It was hard to leave the Inn without bumping into one of their guests, which is exactly the way Rachel and Mike wanted it.

They had a color palette of navy, gold, blush, and silver. To incorporate silver into the table settings they used the bride’s family’s collection of silver. The light from the candles reflecting off of the silver all around the room created a beautiful, warm glow. They also represented Mike’s upbringing in New Hampshire and upstate New York by using a birch tree they cut down from his family’s property in New Hampshire. They used the birch tree for centerpieces, place cards, and candle holders. Mike even carved a design from their Save The Dates into the candle holders. Instead of having many smaller tables, Rachel wanted two large tables to have as many people sitting together as possible. Covered with blush colored tulle, there was one table representing the bride’s family and friends, and a second table representing the groom’s family and friends.

Rachel and Mike worked together, making all of the planning decisions together, and trying to cut through all of the wedding clichés. Their families were also very involved with planning and executing the wedding. Rachel’s grandparents were unable to attend due to illness, but they took time out from their reception to FaceTime with them in Oklahoma. It ended up being the last time they would talk with her grandfather and they will always cherish being able to include them on their wedding day.

Some of their other favorite moments from the weekend include being able to have a final toast with friends at Longtrail Brewery on Sunday, where they were able to sit around and chat about all the memorable moments of the weekend. Also, their friends Kathryn Zaremba, who was Broadway’s Annie Warlocks as a child, and her husband Jeremy Ney, a classically trained pianist, performed for their first dance as well as the Father/Daughter dance and the Mother/Son dance.

Rachel and Mike’s advice for other couples: “Determine what is important to you and then cut out the rest. You probably won’t remember how much effort you spent on details that don’t matter to you or don’t reflect your personality.”

Alex and Bekki discovered some interesting commonalities when they met at a bar in Haverhill, Massachusettes. Bekki is a high school ceramics teacher and Alex happens to enjoy ceramics as a hobby. They were also surprised to learn that Bekki’s apartment was located right next to Alex’s parent’s house. It was not long after their first meeting that they went out for their first date.

On a trip to Bekki’s family’s lake house in Maine, Alex surprised her with his grandmother’s engagement ring in a handmade birch box one early morning on the front porch as she was reading. They decided to have their wedding in Bekki’s home town of Lyme, New Hampshire and they knew the are would be beautiful in the fall. Being a teacher herself, Bekki liked the idea of getting married in an old school house and the Lyme Academy Building had a wonderful old charm- plus enough space to comfortably fit all of their guests. The nearby Dartmouth Skiway had a post and beam interior that they both loved, plus a beautiful overlook of the mountain from the large deck.

Their color palette of slate blue, orange, and cream was perfect for a fall harvest theme. They had gorgeous centerpieces of pumpkins, gourds, bittersweet, and vines. Bekki’s mother made table runners with sunflowers on them and Bekki created ceramic acorns for decorations that doubled as favors. They used names of New Hampshire mountains for the different tables. Their love of New England was apparent and their wedding perfectly blended into the fall landscape.

After Cyndie and Josh were put in charge of the same account at the ad agency they worked at—she was the project manager, he was the art director—they could feel a special connection. Countless laugh filled chats, long hours battling deadlines, and after work beers, they were officially more than just work associates. Both Josh and Cyndie love adventures and spending time in nature, so it was a very special place that Josh chose to propose. Lake Pemaquid Campground in Maine is where Cyndie, her father, and sister have been camping for the last twenty-six years. When she and Josh rented a cabin there for a relaxing weekend getaway Josh took the opportunity to propose on the beach of their usual site, number 41, with the lake and fall leaves surrounding them.

Originally the couple actually assumed they would marry in Maine, but recently both of their sisters were married at their childhood spots. Wanting to keep those locations special to them, Cyndie and Josh decided to officially start their life together in a place that reflected them as a couple. Their first trip together was to Burlington, Vermont - where neither had been before. They spent the weekend exploring the town’s boutiques, artists, and restaurants, and were instantly hooked. Since then the couple have traveled to Vermont many times, so it was a natural choice to host their wedding there.

Cyndie and Josh describe themselves as simple and casual, so they took to the internet in search of small, rustic venues for their wedding. They spent a busy two-day trip exploring six different venues, the last being Blueberry Hill in Goshen, Vermont. They instantly knew it was the one. It was the perfect combination of casual yet beautiful, rustic yet updated, charming yet elegant. The fact that the inn also featured a classically trained chef, and a charming resident pug named Wheezer, clinched it for them.

Their theme of rustic, country, with fall colors went perfectly with the feel of the venue. With the beautiful green mountains in the backdrop, they chose small, simple details that would accentuate the natural beauty around them. They scoured yard sales for mismatched antique dinner and salad plates and hand made centerpieces of fall flowers in mason jars. In fact, everything from the card box to the cake stand and popcorn bar featured wooden accents that were hand crafted by Cyndie and Josh. Their favors of s’mores kits with raspberry, caramel, and coconut marshmallows rounded out the woodsy theme.

Their wedding reflected their crafty side, but the piece de resistance was a fully functioning 80s style arcade, which they completely refurbished and resurfaced with rustic scrap wood pieces stamped with their favorite childhood video games. At the end of the night their guests enjoyed a mouth-watering display of donuts instead of cake, and a s’mores filled bonfire.

Cyndie and Josh’s advice for other couples: “Don’t be afraid to be different. We made a LOT of choices that other people thought were untraditional or just plain odd. You might start to doubt those decisions as the day comes closer, but WAIT. Don’t lose sight of the fact that everything that will make your day unique about YOU as a couple will be the very same things that people will remember the most.”

"Fair Isle" refers to both a style of knitting, but also a tiny island off the northern coast of Scotland. Noted for its charming graphic patterns and colors, Fair Isle is a cozy accent that is equally at home in the wintery lodge or a country garden. The lush mountains of Vermont are the perfect place for recreating the rugged, hilly landscape of the northern British Isles. Add in some fairy-inspired flower crowns, rustic wooden bowls, a soft cable-knit sweater or scarf, and you have the ingredients for a timeless, old-world celebration.

Tiffany and Kyle's September wedding was the quintessential Veremont fall celebration. With stunning foliage and sunny, blue skies, the weather was the perfect setting for their "I dos". The day was filled with love and laughter, while surrounded by their closest friends a family. It was exactly as they imagined and wished it would be. Read more about their Love Story and see more photos from their special day in the Winter/Spring issue of Vermont Bride!